PEMBERTON: Are the Pistons purposefully tanking their season?

Detroit Pistons' Rodney Stuckey, right, loses the ball while driving into Golden State Warriors' Jarret Jack during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

It’s a question that has been brought up as the Pistons continue to struggle since the All-Star break.

Entering Saturday night, Detroit (23-44) has lost seven straight, 10 of its last 11 and is just 2-11 since the All-Star break.

The Pistons have the sixth worst winning percentage in the NBA at .343 and three teams Cleveland (22-43), Phoenix (22-44) and New Orleans (22-44) are less than a game behind them.

With 15 games left, Detroit could easily finish with the third worst record in the league. Orlando and Charlotte likely have the two worst records locked up.

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The Pistons certainly have struggled as of late, but I wouldn’t consider it tanking.

Since the All-Star break, Detroit has played just three teams not in the playoff hunt and has won two of those games.

Detroit’s 11 losses have come to teams with a combined winning percentage of .588.

No one is trying to make excuses for the Pistons, who have looked absolutely terrible in multiple losses, but the schedule has been difficult as of late.

Injuries to key players has also hurt.

Greg Monroe, Jason Maxiell and Charlie Villanueva have all missed a game due to injury.

Brandon Knight played less than four minutes in the loss at Utah and missed Wednesday’s loss at Golden State with an ankle injury. Entering Saturday night, it’s unclear when he will return.

Andre Drummond (back) has not played since Feb. 6. Entering Saturday, the Pistons are just 5-12 without the big man, a winning percentage of .294. Detroit has a winning percentage of .360 with Drummond in the lineup.

The Pistons recently released a statement regarding Drummond’s injury.

“Team doctors, in consultation with Dr. Robert Watkins and Dr. Robert Watkins Jr. of Los Angeles, are pleased with the progress of Andre Drummond’s recovery from a back injury,” read the statement. “Under their guidance, Drummond will enter a second phase of rehabilitation and conditioning that will include a progression of basketball related activities. No timetable has been placed on Drummond’s return to game action at this time. He will continue to be evaluated throughout the rehabilitation and conditioning process and further updates will be passed along at an appropriate time.”

It sounds as if the Pistons are going to be very cautious with Drummond and not rush him back.

There is no reason to rush back the 19-year-old, who has the potential to be a franchise big man. Nobody wants to see Drummond re-injure his back so playing it safe is the right approach. The best way for the injury to heal is rest.

There is a chance Drummond won’t return at all this season, but that remains to be seen.

Detroit has nine of 15 on the road to end the season and face six playoff teams in the 15 games.

The Pistons can likely finish anywhere from the third worst record to the ninth worst record.

It will be interesting to see how things shake up as the Pistons will clearly be in the lottery once again. How many ping pong balls Detroit will have remains to be seen, but that’s likely the last thing on the mind of any of the players.

The NBA has clearly had teams tank in the past, but I wouldn’t consider this Pistons team one of them.]

Dave Pemberton covers the Pistons for Journal Register Newspapers. Email him atdave.pemberton@oakpress.com and follow him on Twitter @drpemberton.